If it is sin that occasions their sickness, “they will be forgiven.” This suggests the possibility that, because of persistence in sin, God sends or allows affliction as a disciplinary agent (1 Co 11:30). The conditional “if they have sinned,” however, makes it clear that not all sickness is the result of sin. A synonym for sickness is affliction, and the definition is “something that causes pain or suffering”. Whenever I read about sickness in the Bible, I think of it as affliction. I don’t believe in every instance of use of sickness/illness (or maybe even any?) are strictly referring to a physical ailment. I’m certainly not a biblical authority, but that’s how I read it.

From the promise of v.15 James draws an inference. Since confession of sin and the prayer of faith bring healing, Christians should confess their “sins to each other and pray for each other.” It is not merely the elders who are told to pray here, but all Christians. If a person has sinned against a fellow-Christian, he or she should confess the sin to that person. This may result in mutual confession—”to each other.” Then the two believers should “pray for each other.” If the sin has caused affliction, healing will follow confession and prayer.

A God-ward focus does not mean that we are to suffer in isolation. Verse 13 shows that we must walk with God in private and individually. The battle with trials must start there. But beyond that, God has made us members of Christ’s body. If we do not share our needs and struggles with others, they cannot help bear our burdens and they will not rejoice when God answers. Confessing our sins to others can also break the power of secret sins, enable others to pray for us in our spiritual struggles, and hold us accountable for our choices.

In our text today, James is acknowledging that we are all struggling against sin, and we need one another in the battle. We need to help one another as we fight to establish and maintain a God-ward, God-dependent focus. Since I confessed holding onto this pain and (finally) giving it to God, I’ve been able to experience true joy that I am not enough and never will be. I don’t have to be — my Lord God is more than sufficient! God has also healed some relationships that I thought would always be difficult. Particularly one relationship where I had lashed out because I was hurt — I gave into pride and believed I had the right to be righteously indignant. And I behaved badly. He guided me to confess my sins and ask for forgiveness. God is more than able to heal our afflictions, but we need to be willing to give it all to Him and lean on our brothers and sisters in Christ.